Why does a microwave oven heat organic material and not inorganic material? — JM, Columbus, OH
A microwave oven heats anything that contains liquid water. Since many organic materials contain water, they will become hot in a microwave oven. But some organic materials such as pure salad oil don’t contain water and won’t become hot in a microwave oven. There are also some inorganic materials such as damp unglazed pottery that contain water and that will become hot.